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Google Fiber sign-ups go live in Austin
If you've been champing at the bit waiting for Google Fiber's Austin launch, today is your big day. Google is now taking sign-ups for gigabit internet access in the southern and southeastern parts of town. As in Kansas City, it'll cost $70 for data alone and $130 if you want TV on top. Other Austinites will get their chance in the future, Google says. Just be ready to act quickly if you're eligible -- there's a sign-up deadline for each qualifying neighborhood, so you risk missing out on Google's super-quick service if you're not careful.
Google Fiber hits Austin this December
It looks like AT&T's gigabit internet is going to get some new company in Austin come December: Google Fiber. At a recent planning meeting in the Weird City, Mountain View detailed how it'll at long last roll the service out, and, as Gigaom notes, it seems similar to what's been in place in the Kansas City, Missouri area. Just like before, individual neighborhoods will have to commit to using the service for Google to consider putting Fiber there. If your area's selected, you'll have to pay a $300 "construction fee" to access the pipeline but, aside from a free 5mbps package, other pricing details haven't been announced. Itching to sign-up and get yourself on the map? You'll have to wait until the last month of the year for that. It feels like a lifetime ago since we first caught wind of Fiber's Austin appearance, but surely you've used those 18 months to plan your first blazing-fast download, right? [Image credit: StuSeeger/Flickr]
AT&T's GigaPower fiber set to hit Chicago and Atlanta
If you've tried burning incense or seeing an internet shaman but Google Fiber still won't come to your city, you may still be able to get gigabit speeds -- from AT&T. The carrier's U-verse GigaFiber service will finally venture away from Texas and hit Chicago and Atlanta. That marks 14 cities (including Cupertino and Miami) set to receive the fiber lines so far, on top of current locations Dallas, Fort Worth and Austin. On top of that, AT&T has announced 100 candidate markets -- including Mountain View -- which may have tweaked, well, Mountain View's nose a bit. Google's Fiber is still stuck in Austin, Provo and Kansas City, with 34 other candidate cites still waiting. There's no news of pricing or availability in the two new GigaFiber markets yet, but pricing in Texas is $99 a month, or $70 if you don't mind targeted ads. [Image credit: Getty Images]
Google Fiber proves it's serious about fast internet with a new leader
Worried that Google Fiber would just be a momentary fascination for the folks in Mountain View? Don't be. Google has confirmed to the Wall Street Journal that it recently hired Dennis Kish, one of Qualcomm's bigger senior vice presidents, to lead its gigabit internet efforts. While it's not clear why Kish came onboard beyond his "operational expertise," he's no stranger to managing big tech projects. Among other work, he played key roles in both Qualcomm's Mirasol display efforts and ST-Ericsson's connectivity business. That kind of know-how could be crucial given Google's expansion plans, especially if rumors of mobile phone service pan out. It's too soon to gauge Kish's influence, but a high-profile hire like this suggests that Fiber's super-fast data service is only going to get bigger -- and that your local telecom giant may well get some genuine competition. [Image credit: Neerav Bhatt, Flickr]
AT&T's gigabit internet beats Google Fiber to Silicon Valley
Well, this has to be awkward: the first company to bring gigabit internet to Silicon Valley isn't Google, it's AT&T. The telco's ultra-high speed U-verse service will land in Cupertino in a few months, meaning that Apple employees (or any other subscribers in the area) will be able to test AT&T's claim that you can download 25 songs in a single second sometime soon. AT&T's senior VP of U-verse Eric Boyer tells Bloomberg that bringing Gigapower to the city is a "no brainer" considering how intrinsic bandwidth is to the area. For its part, Google has plans to expand Fiber's rollout into nearby San Jose, but when that'll happen is anyone's guess -- maybe this could, ahem, speed that along. [Image credit: Associated Press]
Google's not bringing its super-fast fiber internet to the UK anytime soon
Google's only really dipping its toe in the fiber infrastucture racket at the moment, but plans are afoot to slowly expand its Fiber gigabit internet service elsewhere. According to a report from The Telegraph, the search giant is even looking as far afield as the UK, and was discussing the possibility with local network provider CityFibre. Its sources claim CityFibre has since gotten cold feet on the basis it could jeopardize a deal it has with Sky and TalkTalk to bring gigabit internet to parts of York and beyond. While that all sounds plausible and we hate to crush the dreams of speed freaks, Google has told us it's never had any such plans.
Google Fiber customers could get new TV boxes soon
Even as Google is planning to bring its Fiber internet and TV service to more areas, it's working on making it better. Dave Zatz points out an FCC listing for what looks like a second generation version of the Fiber TV set-top box. We're still not sure what exactly is inside but the listing mentions 802.11 ac/n WiFi, 10/100 Ethernet, MoCA, Bluetooth and HDMI 1.4 connections. He also links to source code revealing a new Bluetooth LE-connected remote, the GFRM200. Google Fiber TV has added many new features and even a few services since it launched, and it will be interesting to see what else the Sage TV team can bring to the product this time around. Brent Evans of Geektonic mentions a recent update that added channel filtering to the guide, and HDMI-CEC control from the mobile apps popped up back in May. [Image credit: Julie Denesha/Bloomberg via Getty Images]
Google Fiber won't charge content providers for quicker access
Irked that your internet provider is strong-arming media services into connection deals just to guarantee the quality you were expecting all along? You won't have to worry about that happening with Google Fiber. The gigabit-grade ISP has declared that it isn't charging companies for peering agreements, fast lanes or anything else that gives content hosts and delivery networks better performance than they would otherwise get. In fact, companies like Netflix already colocate in Google's spaces -- there won't be any hitches in that 4K House of Cards stream if you're using Fiber.
Cox wants to hop on the gigabit internet bandwagon this year
In case there was any doubt that gigabit internet access is spreading like wildfire in the US, Cox has revealed plans to introduce an ultra-fast service of its own. The cable provider tells Bloomberg that it hopes to have 1Gbps speeds available by the end of the year, with news of the initial markets coming in the next two to three weeks. CEO Pat Esser notes that gigabit has been on the cards for a long time, but admits that news from rivals like AT&T and Google tipped Cox's hand -- the company wants to let its customers know that they won't be left in the slow lane.
Google documents confirm plans for faster public WiFi in Fiber cities
Google is floating the possibility of public WiFi to upcoming Fiber cities, according to IDG News Service. In a planning document sent to candidate cities, the search giant said it will be "discussing our Wi-Fi plans," which corroborates information we reported earlier about its US expansion. It already has extensive WiFi services in 7,000 Starbucks and other public places, and may soon have an app that makes it easier to log on. It could have more frequencies to play with too -- thanks to its lobbying, the FCC will likely reserve extra "unlicensed spectrum" for WiFi in an upcoming auction. Finally, it might even launch its own MVNO cellphone service alongside the WiFi using leased carrier spectrum, if a report from The Information has any merit. Bear in mind that Google hasn't publicly confirmed any of this yet, but we've reached out for more information.
AT&T hopes to fight Google Fiber with gigabit internet in more cities
AT&T isn't letting Google Fiber's expansion plans go unanswered. The telecom giant has announced that it's looking at bringing its GigaPower internet service to as many as 21 additional big cities and their nearby municipalities. There's some potential for direct competition with Google, as both companies are looking into gigabit access for key urban areas like Atlanta, San Antonio and San Jose. However, it's clear that AT&T is taking some initiative here -- it's also exploring rollouts in Chicago, Los Angeles and other hubs that aren't currently on its rival's roadmap.
Google reportedly wants to offer mobile phone service in Fiber areas
Many see Google Fiber as an attempt to disrupt the stagnant world of internet service providers, and it now sounds like Google wants to shake up the wireless industry, too. Sources for The Information claim that the search firm wants to offer mobile phone service in Fiber areas. It's not yet clear how this would work, but Google reportedly told Verizon in January that it would like to become an MVNO (mobile virtual network operator) piggybacking on Big Red's network. None of the companies involved are commenting on the rumor, and there are no guarantees that Google's dreams will become reality. We certainly wouldn't count on Verizon's cooperation given its vehement opposition to the net neutrality principles that Larry Page and crew hold dear. However, Google is the sort of company that's willing to supply internet access by any means necessary -- if it's really bent on offering phone service, it'll find a way.
San Antonio clears Google Fiber's legal hurdles ahead of a possible deal
San Antonio really wants Google Fiber. Really badly. So badly, in fact, that its City Council has approved leases for Google's networking nodes despite the absence of official rollout plans. The Texas town hopes that removing this legal obstacle in advance will make it a prime candidate for Fiber's next big launch. Google still has some evaluation to do before it can even consider a San Antonio deployment, so locals shouldn't dream of what they'll do with gigabit internet access just yet. However, it's not hard to see why the city is so optimistic -- even the hint of a Fiber launch tends to spur competition and improve speeds for everyone. [Image credit: Nan Palmero, Flickr]
Google Fiber explores bringing gigabit internet to 34 new cities
Google has only made plans to roll out gigabit internet access in three US cities so far, but it's not content with stopping there. The company is now exploring the feasibility of deploying Google Fiber in 34 cities located around the major urban hubs of Atlanta, Charlotte, Nashville, Phoenix, Portland (Oregon), Raleigh-Durham, Salt Lake City, San Antonio and San Jose. In each case, Google will work with local officials to both map out its potential network and create a checklist of requirements. The search giant would like to bring Fiber to every one of the cities if possible. Be careful not to get your hopes up, though -- Google warns that it might not be practical to offer service in every territory. Even so, the potential for expansion should prove comforting to Americans worried that they're running out of choices for broadband providers.
Google offers Fiber to more Provo residents, to expand coverage area throughout 2014 (update)
Provo residents who took advantage of Google Fiber's early registration can no longer claim to be the chosen few. The company has started accepting sign-ups from more folks, so long as they live in select areas along the former iProvo network. Registration is only open in three areas for now, but Google plans to offer the service to a widening pool of eligible residents throughout the year. Not sure if you qualify? Check out Google Fiber's website to see if registration's already open in your area or to submit an application if it is. Unfortunate souls living outside of the planned coverage area, however, will have to settle for a consolation prize: Google is giving away mugs to locals who sign up for the Provo mailing list. Update (01/24/14): A Google rep reached out and told us that registration's already open in all the areas near the former iProvo line, where Fiber will land throughout the year. Make sure to visit Google Fiber's website to sign up and to see when you'll be able start using the high-speed internet connection.
AT&T's 300 Mbps internet launches in Austin, starting at $70 with targeted ads
Right on time, AT&T has launched its 300 Mbps GigaPower internet service in Austin. The fast U-Verse tier is available now to residents in "eligible" neighborhoods, while others can vote fiberhood-style for a deployment in their area. A free upgrade to 1 Gbps is still due sometime in 2014. Just don't expect a traditional approach to pricing. To get GigaPower service at a Google Fiber-rivaling $70 per month, you'll have to let AT&T target its web ads based on your browsing and search histories; Austinites uncomfortable with such tracking will have to shell out $99 per month for otherwise identical speeds. We imagine that some won't like the ad-subsidized business model, but it may be a small price to pay for locals who aren't willing to wait for Google's take on high-speed fiber.
Seattle's high-speed internet project delayed due to money problems
Seattle residents may have to wait a while longer for high-speed fiber internet -- Gigabit Squared (the company developing the network) won't be able to deliver as promised. According to GeekWire, the city's fiber-to-the-home initiative is facing major issues securing financing, to the point that Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn is "very concerned it's not going to work." He says that he hasn't exactly given up on the private sector, but he'd campaign for the government to build its own network if he could. Unfortunately, he's stepping down next month, and it's up to his replacement to decide. The project was supposed to launch in select locations in early 2014, offering up to 1Gbps up and down for $80 per month. Gigabit has yet to make a statement, but we'll let you know if the project gets back on its feet -- or if Google Fiber decides to step in and pick up the slack.
Google widens Fiber rollout in Kansas City, shows how signups will work in Austin
Did you move to the Kansas City area too late to register for Google Fiber? Don't fret -- Google has both reopened sign-ups in the region's 180 current fiber neighborhoods and detailed an upcoming expansion. Those in existing Fiber areas can sign up for service by December 22nd, with installations due by the spring. Meanwhile, those in outlying locations such as Gladstone, Grandview, Kansas City North, South Kansas City and Raytown will get a chance to sign up in March. The search giant has also provided a brief explanation of how Austin residents will sign up for Fiber service when it's available in their town. As in Kansas City, Austinites will be organized into fiberhoods that have to meet registration goals within a few weeks to qualify for a deployment. There's still no word on just when the process will begin, although the mid-2014 service target doesn't leave much time for Google to get the ball rolling.
Daily Update for October 31, 2013
It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get all the top Apple stories of the day in three to five minutes for a quick review of what's happening in the Apple world. You can listen to today's Apple stories by clicking the inline player (requires Flash) or the non-Flash link below. To subscribe to the podcast for daily listening through iTunes, click here. No Flash? Click here to listen. Subscribe via RSS
Google Fiber comes to iPhone, iPod touch with DVR functions
Google Fiber is nowhere near close to being available in my area -- or in most places in the US -- but to those few lucky enough to score the golden ticket, the companion iOS app has been updated to include support for iPhones and DVR management. Those features include a shortcut to reach your favorite shows with one tap and to organize and mass-delete content on your DVR from the app. While the update itself isn't huge, and many competing services have already released their companion DVR apps with similar features, it only serves to remind us that we long for Google Fiber to be available on a more widespread basis. [via Engadget]
